Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER WITH TAB
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a container for use in a beverage preparation
machine and a process for obtaining a front part of such a container.
Technical background
A container for use in a beverage preparation machine may be a capsule or a
pod, e.g. a round coffee pod. The container or a part of the container is
typically
manufactured by separating a blank. The separating process may be a cutting
process such as punching, and the blank may be a sheet, for example from a
roll
of sheets or material. The separated blank is then subsequently formed and
sealed with another separated blank, for example separated from the same
blank, thereby making the container or at least a part of the container. The
container may contain an ingredient such as coffee or tea. The ingredient may
be dosed before sealing so that the ingredient is contained in a compartment
of
the container.
The container needs to be handled by a user for being appropriately used in
the
beverage preparation machine. In particular, the container requires a defined
position and orientation with respect to the beverage preparation machine so
that the ingredients contained in the container can be appropriately processed
by the beverage preparation machine. For example, the container requires the
defined position or orientation such that an identification code can be read
by
the beverage preparation machine, or such that water can appropriately
traverse the container for accordingly preparing the beverage from the
ingredients provided inside of the container. An easy use of the container for
an
appropriate use in the beverage preparation machine is thus desired.
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Separating the blank to form the container and in particular to form a complex
shape of the container, in particular for convenient handling of the
container, is
not ecologically friendly. This is because the separation process results in
that a
certain and quite high percentage of the blank, i.e. of the roll material,
remains
in between the cut out blanks, out of which the container or the part of the
container is manufactured. Consequently, this remaining or unused material
leads to a significant amount of waste, thereby also increasing the costs of
production.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container and
a
process for manufacturing a container, which overcome the afore-mentioned
drawbacks. That is, it is in particular an object of the present invention to
provide a container, which can be efficiently manufactured and at the same
time facilitates an easy use in a beverage preparation machine.
These and other objects, which become apparent upon reading the following
description, are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. The
dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.
Summary of the invention
According to a first aspect of the invention, a container is provided for use
in a
beverage preparation machine. The container comprises a sealed body for
containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage such as a coffee or tea, the
sealed body comprising a back part and a front part, which are sealed along
one
or more first side edges. The front part comprises one or more tabs integrally
formed with the front part, wherein each of the one or more tabs has one or
more second side edges, wherein at least one (or each) of the one or more
second side edges (of the respective tab) is at least in part complementary
formed to the one or more first side edges.
In the context of the present invention, a form is to be understood
"complementary formed" to another form, when the forms can be connected to
each other such that substantially no clearance is formed between the forms,
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e.g. when a convex form and a concave form are defined by substantially the
same diameter.
The one or more second side edges may be formed by obtaining one or more
further front parts of different containers, such as by obtaining one or more
first side edges and/or one or more second side edges of the further front
parts.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a container is provided for use
in
a beverage preparation machine. The container comprises a sealed body for
io containing an ingredient for preparing a beverage such as a coffee or
tea, the
sealed body comprising a back part and a front part, which are sealed along
one
or more first side edges. The front part comprises one or more tabs integrally
formed with the front part, wherein each of the one or more tabs has one or
more second side edges, wherein the one or more second side edges are formed
by obtaining one or more further front parts of other containers.
In other words, the design of the container(s) according to the present
invention facilitates that a plurality of such containers or front parts can
be put
together like a jigsaw puzzle, e.g. forming a single piece without any
clearances
defined by the connection between the front parts. Thereby, the container or
front part can be produced with a reduced amount of waste. That is, a
significantly increased amount of the material, which would remain as waste
after obtaining the respective container or front part and at least one
further
container or front part, is now used for the one or more tabs. The one or more
tabs in turn effect an easier use of the container, since the one or more tabs
provide a structure for cooperating with the beverage preparation machine
and/or with the user, e.g. for easier handling and/or processing of the
container. Thereby, the container in particular provides a more efficient
manufacturing, while at the same time providing an easier use of the container
with respect to the beverage preparation machine.
The front part and the one or more further front parts may be obtained from
the same blank. This increases the efficiency of manufacturing the container.
Additionally or alternatively, the front part and the one or more further
front
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parts may be identically formed. "Identically formed" is to be understood such
that the front part and the one or more further front parts have the same form
or shape, at least when viewed in a plan view of the front parts, which may be
a
viewing direction being perpendicular to a flat surface of the front parts or
the
blank, from which the front parts are obtained. This increases the efficiency
of
manufacturing the container.
The one or more tabs may include a handling tab for handling the container.
The handling tab typically provides a surface adapted for being grasped by a
user. The handling tab effects that a user can easily handle or (manually)
manipulate the container, e.g. with respect to a beverage preparation machine,
without touching or acting on the sealed body or ingredient contained in the
sealed body. For example, the handling tab is provided such that a user can
insert the container into the beverage machine and easily remove or withdraw
the container from the beverage preparation machine for disposing of the
container, e.g. since the beverage preparation machine does not include a
trash
bin for the container. When inserted in the beverage preparation machine, the
handling tab may extent in a direction to an outside of the beverage
preparation
machine, so that a user can easily remove the container from the machine after
use.
The one or more tabs may include an identification tab comprising (machine-
readable) information, e.g. in the form of a code (2D-, 3D-, matrix-barcode,
QR-code, RFID, etc.), for processing the container in a beverage preparation
machine. The identification tab may bear the information, e.g. the information
respectively code may be printed onto the identification tab. The information
may include information relating to the ingredient of the container and/or
information relating to process parameters for processing the container such
as
for processing the ingredients contained in the sealed body. The
identification
tab therefore provides a surface, on which the information can be provided, so
that there is in particular no need to provide the information on other parts
of
container, such as on the sealed body. Further, the identification tab
provides a
good visibility of the information for a reader of the beverage preparation
machine. The reader of the beverage preparation machine is usually adapted to
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automatically read the information, when the information provided on the
identification tab is in the field of view of the reader. Therefore, the
identification tab effects a very easy reading of the information provided on
the
identification tab by the dedicated information reader of the beverage
5 preparation machine. As such, the identification tab effects an easier
use of the
container in a beverage preparation machine.
Preferably, the one or more tabs are shaped to bring the container in a
defined
position and/or orientation in a beverage preparation machine. For example, at
io least one or each of the one or more tabs, in particular the one or more
side
edges of the respective tab, is at least in part shaped correspondingly to a
part
of the beverage preparation machine, thereby effecting the defined position
and/or orientation with respect to the beverage preparation machine. In the
defined position and/or orientation of the container, the container can be
appropriately processed by the beverage preparation machine, and/or the
information provided on the container, e.g. on the identification tab, can be
appropriately read by the beverage preparation machine, and/or the handling
tab extends in a direction for any easy removal of the container from the
beverage preparation machine. Since a beverage preparation machine may
require that the information to be read is always at the same place within the
machine, i.e. in the field of view of the reader of the beverage preparation
machine, the one or more tabs can effectively effect that the information
provided on the tab is always in this place, when the container is used
(inserted) in the beverage preparation machine.
The tabs may extent in different directions. Thus, it is effectively prevented
that
one of the tabs, e.g. the handling tab, interferes with a further one of the
tabs,
e.g. the identification tab, thereby increasing the ease-of-use of the
container.
Additionally or alternatively, the tabs may be arranged to be diametrically
opposed. This provides, in particular, for a particularly easy use of the
container, since due to the relatively great distance between the tabs it is
prevented that the tabs interfere with one another.
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The tabs may extent in a same plane. In other words, the tabs may be obtained
from the same blank having a flat surface, wherein said flat surface
substantially extents in only one plane. Therefore, the compactness of the
container is increased.
At least one of the one or more second side edges may be a side edge being
laterally provided with respect to the respective tab. Since the lateral side
of the
tab is usually the longest side of the respective tab, a relatively great
amount of
waste during obtaining the container can be reduced.
At least one of the one or more second side edges may be a side edge being
provided at a distal end of the respective tab. Therefore, a relatively long
tab
can be provided, since, when two front parts are obtained from the same blank,
the distal end corresponding to the first side edge can thus be formed by
using
the material extending up to the first side edge of the further front part. As
such, the front part may comprise, for example, only one tab for fulfilling
different functions, e.g. the function of both the handling tab and the
information tab, i.e. of both handling the container, and providing
information.
The one or more second side edges of one of the tabs may include a second side
edge being complementary formed to a second side edge of a further one of the
tabs. In other words, by obtaining a second side edge of one of the tabs, e.g.
this
second side edge being a distal end of this tab, at the same time a second
side
edge of a further tab, e.g. this (further) second side edge being also a
distal end
of this (further) tab, of a front part of another container can be obtained.
Therefore, a design of the container for more efficient manufacturing is
provided. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more second side edges of
the
one or more tabs includes a second side edge being formed by obtaining one or
more tabs of further front parts of other containers. Therefore, manufacturing
of the container is more efficient.
At least one of the one or more second side edges may have a concave shape,
wherein the one or more first side edges have thus a convex shape. These
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complementary shapes or forms of the first and second side edges are
particularly advantageous for an efficient manufacturing of the container.
Each of the one or more tabs may have only three second side edges. These
three second side edges may merge continuously or discontinuously with one
another. Two of these second side edges may be laterally provided side edges
of
the respective tab, wherein the third of these second side edges is provided
at
the distal end of the respective tab. In one embodiment, each of the (three)
second side edges of a respective tab is at least in part complementary formed
io to the one or more first side edges. Therefore, a particularly great
amount of
waste during manufacturing of the container can be reduced. According to this
embodiment, a container with only one tab may be obtained. In another
embodiment, only two of the second side edges of a respective tab, e.g. the
laterally provided side edges, may be each at least in part complementary
formed to the one or more first side edges, wherein, more preferably, the
third
of the second side edges of the respective tab, e.g. provided at the distal
end, is
at least in part complementary formed to the third of the second side edges of
the respective other tab. Therefore, a particularly great amount of waste
during
manufacturing of the container can be reduced, while according to this
embodiment a container with at least or only two tabs can be very efficiently
obtained.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a process for obtaining one or
more first front parts and (for obtaining) a second front part from a blank is
provided. Each of the front parts may be a front part as previously described.
Each front part is suitable for a container (e.g. as described above), wherein
the
container is adapted to be used in a beverage preparation machine, wherein the
container comprises a sealed body for containing an ingredient for preparing a
beverage, the sealed body comprising a back part and the respective front
part.
The process comprises the following steps: providing a blank for obtaining the
front parts, obtaining the one or more first front parts from the blank, and
obtaining the second front part from the blank such that the second front part
comprises one or more tabs with each tab comprising one or more side edges,
which one or more side edges are formed by obtaining the one or more first
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front parts from the blank. The "second front parts" may also refer to "the
front
parts", wherein the "first front parts" may also refer to the "further front
parts".
The process may also include the step of sealing together the one or more
first
front parts and/or the second front parts with a respective back part, thereby
forming a sealed body. The process may also include dosing of an ingredient
(e.g., coffee or tea) for preparing a beverage, such that the respective
sealed
body contains the ingredient. Dosing may be before the respective sealing.
io The above-described advantages with respect to the container apply
likewise to
the process of the invention. In particular, the process facilitates an
efficient
manufacturing of the one or more first front parts and the second front part
with a significantly reduced amount of waste. In other words, the process uses
the material, which would remain as waste material, e.g. when the front parts
would be obtained without any tab, as the one or more tabs being integrally
provided with the second front part. Thus, a very efficient production of the
front part respectively container is achieved, while at the same time the
front
part respectively container can be more easily used by having the one or more
tabs.
The front parts may be obtained by a separation process. Therefore, the front
part is very efficiently obtained, in particular with a reduced amount of
waste.
In a possible embodiment, the front parts may be obtained by punching.
Description of preferred embodiments
In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the
enclosed figures, in which
Figure 1 is a schematic plan (top) view of a front part of a
container
according to a first preferred embodiment;
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Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a blank for obtaining a
plurality of
front parts according to the embodiment shown in figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic plan (top) view of a front part of a
container
according to a second preferred embodiment;
Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a blank for obtaining a
plurality of
front parts according to the embodiment shown in figure 3;
io Figure 5 is a detailed view, showing how a front part according to
the
embodiment shown in figure 3 is obtained from the blank shown
in figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a plan view of the front part in figure 5 without the
remaining
blank.
In the figures, two preferred embodiments for a container 1 are shown. The
container 1 is adapted for being used in a beverage preparation machine, e.g.
in
a beverage preparation machine of the "Nespresso professional" type.
Therefore, the container 1 may be adapted to be traversed by a flow of
(pressurized and/or heated) water. The beverage preparation machine may
comprise a water tank, a heater for heating the water from the water tank, and
a
pump for pumping the heated water. The beverage preparation machine may
also include a holder adapted for holding the container 1. For example, the
holder is adapted to hold the container 1 in a position, in which the beverage
preparation machine can produce a beverage from the container 1 by the
(heated and/or pressurized) water. The container 1 is not limited to a
specific
container. For example, the container 1 may be a capsule or a pod.
The container 1 comprises a sealed body 2 for containing an ingredient for
preparing a beverage. The ingredient may be, for example, (ground) coffee or
tea (tea leaves, herbal tea, fruits, herbs, spices, etc.) or any other plant
material
suitable for preparing a beverage, e.g. by extraction. The ingredient may also
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include additives such as milk or sugar. The beverage to be prepared may
therefore be, for example, a coffee or a tea.
The sealed body 2 comprises a front part 3 and a back part. In the figures,
the
5 back part is not shown, since the figures show a plan view, in which the
viewing
direction is perpendicular to a flat surface of the front part 3. The back
part is
provided on a rear side of the front part 3. The front part 3 and the back
part
are sealed at least along (only) one or more first side (or peripheral) edges
4.
Thereby, the front part 3 and the back part delimit a (closed and/or internal)
10 compartment, which contains the ingredient. Each of the one or more
first side
edges 4 may have a round or convex form (shape). In other examples, each of
the one or more side edges 4 may also have a different shape, e.g. a straight,
elliptical and/or polygonal shape. Sealing together the front part 3 and the
back
part may thus be in part along the one or more side edges 4 and in part on
other
parts of the front part 3 and back part so that a sealing path 5 is obtained,
which is, for example, a closed sealing path 5. The sealing path 5 may have a
shape corresponding to the one or more first side edges 4. For example, the
sealing path 5 has a round shape, in particular in the form of a (closed)
circle.
In other examples, the sealing path 5 may also have a polygonal form. Sealing
may be effected by a heat sealer. In other examples, an additional sealing
element, e.g. an adhesive bond element such as a glue, may be provided for
sealing together the front part 3 and the back part.
The front part 3 and/or the back part may be respectively provided in a formed
state, i.e. having a three-dimensional extension. For example, the front part
3
and/or the back part may be initially provided in a substantially flat state,
in
which the respective part has substantially only a two-dimension extension.
The front part 3 and/or the back part may be brought from the flat state into
the formed state by a forming process. The form of the front part 3 and/or the
back part thus defines the spatial extent of the compartment defined by the
front part 3 and back part.
The back part may be adapted for injecting water into the container 1, i.e. in
the
compartment defined by the front part 3 and the back part. For example, the
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back part may be designed to be pierced by a needle, which needle thus injects
water into the compartment. The front part 3 may be adapted to discharge
water from the compartment. That is, the water enters the compartment via the
back part, comes into contact with the ingredients inside of the compartment,
thereby e.g. extracting soluble compounds or flavors from the ingredients, and
is finally discharged by way of the front part 3 for dispensing the beverage.
The
front part 3 may comprise a filter for preventing particles of the ingredient
to
flow downstream of the front part 3. The front part 3 may function as the
filter.
Alternatively, the filter may be provided separately with respect to the front
part 3, e.g. downstream or upstream of the front part 3 with respect to the
flow
of discharging water.
In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the front part 3 comprises only
one tab ii. The tab 11 is integrally formed with the front part 3, so that the
front
part 3 and the tab 11 are obtained from the same blank (raw material). The tab
ii extends to an outside of the front part 3 or container 1. For example, the
tab
11 may extend from the sealing path 5, preferably such that the proximal end
of
the tab 11 is provided at the sealing path 5 or the sealing path 5 extends
over the
proximal end of the tab ii. The tab ii may extent in a substantially flat
manner,
i.e. in substantially only one extension plane and with only one (relatively
thin)
thickness. The tab ii may comprise a surface, wherein the surface is, for
example, substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the front part
3.
The tab ii may be a handling tab for handling the container 1, in particular
for
inserting the container 1 into the beverage preparation machine and for
removing the container 1 from the beverage preparation machine. Therefore,
the surface of the tab ii may be adapted for being grasped by a user. Thus,
the
surface may be provided such that grasping the tab 11 or the surface does not
interfere with the compartment defined by the back part and front part 3. For
example, the surface comprises a defined or undefined structure, which aids in
grasping the tab ii. The surface may be roughened so that a particularly easy
handling of the tab ii and, thus, of the front part 3 and container 1 is
possible.
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Additionally or alternatively, the tab ii may be an identification tab. The
tab ii
thus comprises information for processing the container 1 in the beverage
preparation machine. The process parameters may refer, for example, to a
water pressure and/or a water temperature and/or a filling volume of the
beverage to be prepared. The information may be provided in the form of a
code. For example, the tab 11 or the surface of the tab ii may comprise a
machine-readable code comprising the information, wherein the machine-
readable code can be read by a dedicated reader in the beverage preparation
machine. The machine readable code may be an RFID tag and/or a barcode,
e.g. a 2D-, 3D-, matrix-, or QR-barcode. Thus, the surface of the tab ii may
both be provided for handling the container 1 and for bearing information,
thereby being both a handling tab and an identification tab.
The tab ii may be shaped to bring the container 1 in a defined position and/or
orientation in a beverage preparation machine. For example, the tab 11 or a
structure of the tab ii, e.g. the below described second side edges, is shaped
correspondingly to a part of the beverage preparation machine such as of the
holder of the beverage preparation machine. As such, the corresponding
connection or engagement between the (structure of) the tab ii and the
beverage preparation machine brings the container 1 in the defined position
and/or orientation. In the defined position and/or orientation, the beverage
preparation machine can appropriately process the container 1, e.g. the
beverage preparation machine can appropriately read the information provided
on the tab ii and/or inject water into the container 1 for preparing the
beverage. Thus, with the tab 11 an erroneous operation of the beverage
preparation machine with the container 1 can be effectively prevented.
The tab ii comprises a plurality of second side (or peripheral) edges 12, 13,
14.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the tab ii comprises
only three second side edges 12, 13, 14. The second side edges 12, 13, 14
delimit
the tab 11 or the surface of the tab ii. The second side edges 12, 13 are side
edges, which are laterally provided with respect to the tab ii. That is, each
of
the second side edges 12, 13 extend from the proximal end of the tab 11 to the
distal end of the tab ii. For example, each of the second side edges 12, 13
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merges continuously with the first side edge 4 or, if present, with a
respective
one of a plurality of first side edges 4. The second side edge 14 is provided
at the
distal end of the tab 11. As exemplarily shown in figure 1, the second side
edge
14 may merge discontinuously with the laterally provided second side edges 12,
13, respectively. In other examples, the second side edge 14 may also merge
continuously with the laterally provided side edges 12, 13. For example, the
second side edges 12, 13, 14 may form a single second side edge, which
delimits
the (surface of the) tab ii.
io According to the invention, at least one of the second side edges 12,
13, 14 is at
least in part complementary formed to the one or more first side edges 4. Due
to this complementary form of the first side edge 4 on the one side and the at
least one (or each) of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 on the other side, the
container 1 and in particular the front part 3 can be produced with a reduced
amount of waste, since the material, which would be actually waste material,
is
now used for obtaining the tab ii. More specifically, and with reference to
figure 2, the tab 11, i.e. the second side edges 12, 13, 14, may be obtained
or
formed by obtaining, e.g. cutting or separating such as punching, one or more
further front parts 3' of other containers. As apparent from figure 2, the
front
part 3 and the further front parts 3' may be obtained from a same blank 30
and/or may be identically formed, when viewed in a plan view of the blank 30
or the front parts 3, 3'. The blank 30 may be provided in the form of having a
(single) flat surface, and/or may be from a roll of material.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, each of the second side
edges 12, 13, 14 of the tab 11 is at least in part or entirely complementary
formed to the first side edge 4. As apparent from figure 2, an area or a
region of
the blank 30 may be delimited by three front parts 3' ("first front parts") to
be
obtained from the blank 3o; for example, the area may be between the circular
shapes of the front parts 3, 3'. These three front parts 3' are obtained from
the
blank 30, e.g. by separating at least along the respective first side edge 4,
such
that the before-mentioned area or region is separated from these three front
parts 3', but still integrally formed with another front part 3 ("second front
part") to be obtained from the blank 30. Thus, the area or region ¨ previously
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delimited by the three (first) front parts 3' to be obtained from the blank 30
¨
becomes the tab ii being integrally formed with the remaining (second) front
part 3. Thereby, each of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 of the tab ii of the
second front part 3 is complementary formed to the first side edge 4 of the
first
three front parts 3, thereby resulting in substantially no waste for obtaining
these four front parts 3, 3'.
The second side edges 12, 13, 14 are not limited to a specific shape as long
as at
least one of these second side edges 12, 13, 14 is complementary formed to the
io first side edge 4, thereby resulting in a reduced amount of waste. A
form is to be
understood "complementary formed" to another form, when the forms can be
connected, or cooperate, with each other such that substantially no clearance
is
formed between the forms. For example, in case the complementary forms are
round shaped, the complementary forms have substantially equal diameters. As
shown in figures 1 and 2, each of the second side edges 12, 13, 14 has
preferably
a concave shape, since the first side edge 4 has a convex shape. In other
embodiments, the second side edges 12, 13, 14 may also have a different shape,
e.g. a polygonal, rectangular, or straight shape. With such a design, a
plurality
of containers 1 respectively front parts 3 can be put together like a jigsaw
puzzle, thereby forming a single surface (when viewed in a plan view of this
surface) without any clearances formed by putting together the front parts 3,
as
shown in figure 2.
In figures 3-6, a container 1 according to a second preferred embodiment is
shown. The container 1 according to the second preferred embodiment
substantially corresponds to the container 1 according to the first embodiment
as described above, unless otherwise specified in the following.
The container 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the container
1 according to the first embodiment in particular in that the container 1,
i.e. its
front part 3, comprises a plurality of tabs, namely the tab ii and a further
tab
21. In other embodiments, the front part 3 may also comprise more than two
tabs. The further tab 21 substantially corresponds to the tab 11 so that the
description of the tab ii applies correspondingly to the further tab 21,
unless
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otherwise stated. Therefore, the further tab 21 also includes one or more
second
side edges 22, 23, 24, Out of which the side edges 22, 23 are laterally
provided
side edges, and the side edge 24 is provided at a distal end of the further
tab 21.
The further tab ii may be used for a different function than the tab ii. For
5 example, the tab 11 is only used as the handling tab, wherein,
additionally or
alternatively, the further tab 21 is only used as the identification tab.
The tabs 11, 21 may extend in different directions and/or in the same plane.
As
apparent from, in particular, figure 3, the tabs 11, 21 may be arranged to be
io diametrically opposed. The tabs 11, 21 may be arranged such that by
handling
the container 1 by way of the tab 11 to be put inside of the beverage
preparation
machine, the further tab 21 is brought into a position and/or orientation, in
which the beverage preparation machine can read the information provided on
the further tab 21. The further tab 21 may be, as apparent from figure 3,
shorter
15 than the tab 11 so that in particular the surface of the further tab 21
(i.e. the
surface, which can be seen in the plan view of the front part 3) is smaller
than
the surface of the tab 21. For example, the surface of the further tab 21 may
be
such that the surface substantially only comprises the information (e.g. a
barcode), i.e. the information covers the entire surface of the further tab
21.
The second embodiment of the container 1 also differs from the first
embodiment of the container 1 in that one of the second side edges of each of
the tabs 11, 21 is (at least in part or entirely) complementary formed to a
second
side edge of the respective other one of the tabs 11, 21. As apparent from,
for
example, figures 3 and 5, the second side edge 14 a (i.e. the third side edge
14A),
which is provided at the distal end of the tab 11, is complementary formed to
the (third) second side edge 24 of the further tab 21, which is also provided
at
the distal end of the further tab 21. The respective other two second side
edges
12, 13, 22, 23 are each at least in part complementary formed to the one or
more first side edges 4.
As apparent from figure 4 and, in particular, figure 5, an area (or a region)
of
the blank 30 is delimited by two front parts 3' ("first front parts") to be
obtained from the blank 3o; for example, the area may be between the circular
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shapes of the front parts 3, 3'. These two front parts 3' are obtained from
the
blank 30, e.g. by separating at least along the respective first side edge(s)
4. The
before-mentioned area is also separated along the second side edge 24 - and
thus along the second side edge 14A - such that this area is separated in a
first
part and a second part. The first part of this area remains integrally formed
with a ("second") front part 3 (but separated from the respective other front
parts), thereby forming the further tab 21 of this front part 3. The second
part
of this area remains integrally formed with a further ("second") front part 3,
but
separated from the respective other front parts, thereby forming the tab ii of
io this further front part 3. Thus, the area or region ¨ previously
delimited by the
two ("first") front parts 3' to be obtained from the blank 30 ¨ becomes the
tab
ii and the further tab 21 being integrally formed with a ("second") front part
3
and a further ("second") front part 3, respectively. Thereby, for obtaining
the
tabs 11, 21 of a plurality of front parts, substantially no waste is
generated.
Further, with the second side edges 12, 13 and the second side edges 22, 23
being complementary formed to the first side edges 4 of the respective other
front parts 3, waste during manufacturing is significantly reduced.
The second side edges 14A, 24 are not limited to a specific shape as long as
they
are complementary formed to one another, thereby resulting in a reduced
amount of waste. As shown in figures 3 and 5, the second side edge 14A has
preferably a convex (e.g. round) shape, and the second side edge 24 has thus a
concave (e.g. round) shape. In other embodiments, the second side edges 14A,
24 may also have a different shape, e.g. a polygonal, rectangular, and/or
straight shape.
The container 1 is not limited to a specific material. For example, the
(entire)
container 1 or at least the front part 3 and/or back part is made of a
flexible or
semi-flexible material and/or of a material comprising plastic, paper,
cardboard, aluminum, and/or a multilayer laminate. Additionally or
alternatively, the (entire) container 1 or at least the front part 3 and/or
the back
part may be made of a biodegradable and/or compostable (home compostable
or industrially compastable) material, e.g. a material comprising a
compostable
polymer, paper, and/or cellulose. A material is to be understood as
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"compostable" or "biodegradable" when the material fulfills the requirements
established by the European Norm EN 13431 ("Packaging - Requirements for
packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation - Test scheme
and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging").
It should be clear to a skilled person that the embodiments shown in the
figures
are only preferred embodiments, but that, however, also other designs of a
container 1 can be used.
